Metal lip jig rig

ABSTRACT

A metal lip jig rig that has a metal lip with raised edges to help the metal lip jig rig sink and wobble when reeled in or let out in water. The metal lip jig rig can be used with a number of fishing lure accessories such as artificial and live bait, feathers, Chenalle wire, spinner wire and other common fishing lure accessories. The metal lip jig rig is designed to replace lead split shot sinkers and lead jigs and can be used with a spinning rod, a fly rode, a bait rod or a deep sea rod.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/855,680 filed May 16, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/233,662, filed Sep. 19, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to fishing. More specifically, the invention relates to a plurality of metal lip jig rigs.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Fishing has always been a favorite American pastime. With the advent of new plastics and materials, new fishing jigs have been developed that are better and more effective than older ones. Many of these new types of jigs and accessories are reflected in the related art as well.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,859 issued on Oct. 27, 1992, to Clarence L. Wirkus, describes a cast lead fishing jig comprising an upturned hook portion with a long shank imbedded in an oval shaped body of cast lead having a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface. The eye portion of the hook is bent at a right angle to protrude up from the body proximate its nose. A worm, leech or a plastic wriggler can be attached to the upturned hook portion. The jig is distinguishable for requiring an environmentally dangerous lead body made by casting around a bent hook.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,540 issued on Mar. 28, 2000, to Carl J. Potts, describes an artificial soft plastic fishing lure comprising three threaded fish strung on one line to simulate a school of bait fish. The fish have artificial eyes, a V-shaped dorsal fin, a dorsal rattle or fish-attracting scent in an elongated dorsal void space, and a ventral Y-shaped fiber weed guard. The artificial fishing lure is distinguishable for its requirement for various adornments, to say nothing of the fact that it is a lure, not a jig.

[0008] W.I.P.O. Patent Application No. WO/97/09875 published on Mar. 20, 1997, granted to Allen R. McDonald et al., describes a lead sinker coated with either rubber, plastic or latex and impregnated with fish oils. The lead sinker is distinguishable for being directed to only the lead sinker.

[0009] Although each of these fishing lures and accessories are novel and useful, what is really needed is an alternative to lead split shot sinkers and lead jigs that have been found to be hazardous to the environment. A replacement for these hazardous lead fishing lures and accessories would have a high demand and would be well-received in the marketplace.

[0010] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a metal lip jig rig solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The invention is a metal lip jig rig that has a metal lip with raised edges to help the metal lip jig rig sink and wobble when placed in water or let out and pulled in river current. The metal lip jig rig utilizes a number of fishing lure accessories such as artificial and live bait, feathers, Chenalle wire, spinner wire and other common fishing lure accessories. The metal lip jig rig is designed to replace lead split shot, sinkers and lead jigs.

[0012] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to lead split shot, sinkers and lead jigs.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide fishing jigs that have elevated lip edges that produces a wobbling and sinking effect while in the water.

[0014] It is a further object of the invention to provide non-toxic fishing jigs with a variety of features such as weedless hooks, Chenalle wire, spurs, bucktail, feathers, hair, lips, baitholders and eyes.

[0015] Still another object of the invention is to provide fishing jigs with lips made from a variety of plastics and non-toxic metals.

[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a metal lip jig rig according to the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment of a metal lip jig rig.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment of a metal lip jig rig.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the third embodiment of a metal lip jig rig.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a metal lip jig rig.

[0023]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the fifth embodiment of a metal lip jig rig.

[0024] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present invention is a metal lip jig rig 10 used with bait for fish F, as is depicted in FIG. 1.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the metal lip jig rig 10 comprises a metal lip 20 with a top portion 24 and a bottom portion 26 to help the metal lip jig rig 10 sink and wobble when placed in water and also let out in river current. The metal lip jig rig 10 further comprises a punched out strap 30 that is used to receive a fishing line (not shown), a first aperture 40 on the top portion 24 of the metal lip 20 to potentially rivet a first hook 50 or a spinner wire (FIG. 5) to the metal lip jig rig 10. There is also a second aperture 60 on the bottom portion 26 of the metal lip 20 to potentially receive and hold a second hook (FIG. 3) and a plurality of spurs 70 on the area provided between the bottom portion 26 and the top portion 28 that can be wrapped around a third hook (FIG. 4) to potentially receive and hold a third hook (not shown). FIG. 2 illustrates the first embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 10 with a first hook 50, which is connected to the first aperture 40. The first hook 50 depicted on the metal lip jig rig 10 is a weedless hook.

[0027]FIG. 3 illustrates the second embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 80. The second embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 80 is different than the first embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 10 in that the area between the bottom portion and the top portion 28 is without spurs 70 and is twisted 90 degrees. A second hook 90 is provided at the second aperture 60. The second embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 80 also has a lead line 100 and a fourth hook 110, which are provided at the second aperture 60. In this second embodiment 80, the metal lip 20 can act like a lead sinker (not shown), which it would safely replace.

[0028]FIG. 4 illustrates the third embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 120. The third embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 120 has a first hook 50 that is riveted at the first aperture 40 and a second hook 90 that is in the form of artificial bait (an artificial minnow 130). Other forms of artificial bait can include other soft plastic bait such as a soft plastic worm (not shown). The second hook 90 can also hold types of live bait as well such as cut bait, frozen bait, and live minnows (not shown).

[0029]FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 140. This embodiment of the metal lip jig rig has a spinner wire 150 at the first aperture 40 and a second hook 90 and feathers 160 provided therewith. Additionally, the area between the first aperture and the second aperture 28 is provided with Chenalle wire 170 and artificial eyes 180. These fishing lure accessories are well-known to those that are schooled in the related art. Like all of the embodiments of the metal lip jig rig, the metal lip 20 provided has raised edges 22 and is used in lieu of lead sinkers and lead jigs (not shown).

[0030]FIG. 6 illustrates the fifth embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 190. The fifth embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 190 has an area between the first aperture and the second aperture 28 that is an area molded over 200. To accommodate the area molded over 200 at the area between the first aperture and the second aperture 28, the plurality of spurs 70 provided in the first embodiment of the metal lip jig rig 10 are replaced with bait holders 75. The plurality of spurs 70 are typically made of bendable wire that can hold a third hook (not shown) or bait, while bait holders 75 act like spikes, with bait being stuck on the angled bait holder 75. The area molded over 200 is a smooth and clean surface that is produced with non-toxic metal or plastic polymer.

[0031] Use of the different embodiments of the metal lip jig rig 10,80,120,140,190 is not different than similar fishing jig rigs that do not have a metal lip 20 with raised edges 22. The metal lip 20 can come in a variety of sizes and colors to be more aesthetically pleasing to fish and to be in proper proportion with the rest of the different embodiments of the metal lip jig rig 10,80,120,140,190 and is usually in the shape of a teardrop or triangle head. The metal lip 20 is made from non-toxic metals (no lead) and can be replaced with a lip made with plastic polymers that are well-known to those schooled in the related art. The fishing line is attached to the different embodiments of the metal lip jig rig 10,80,120,140,190 by tying the fishing line to the punched out strap 30 provided on the metal lip 20.

[0032] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A metal lip jig rig, comprising: a metal lip, a top portion and a bottom portion to help the metal lip jig rig sink when placed in water; a punched out strap that is used to receive a fishing line; a first aperture on the top portion of the metal lip to potentially rivet a first hook and a spinner wire to the metal lip jig rig; a second aperture on the bottom portion of the metal lip to potentially receive and hold a second hook; and a plurality of spurs on the area provided between the bottom portion and the top portion that can be wrapped around a third hook to potentially receive and hold the third hook.
 2. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein a first hook is riveted to the first aperture.
 3. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 2, wherein the first hook is a weedless hook.
 4. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein the area between the bottom portion and the top portion is twisted 90 degrees.
 5. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 4, wherein the second hook is provided at the second aperture.
 6. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 4, wherein a lead line and a fourth hook are also provided at the second aperture.
 7. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein a first hook, a second hook and live bait are provided at the first aperture and the second aperture.
 8. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 7, wherein a third hook, a second hook and artificial bait are provided at the plurality of spurs and the second aperture.
 9. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein a spinner wire at the first aperture and a second hook and feathers at the second aperture are provided.
 10. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 9, wherein the area between the first aperture and the second aperture is provided with Chenalle wire and artificial eyes.
 11. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein the area between the first aperture and the second aperture is molded along a second hook provided at the second aperture.
 12. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 11, wherein the area between the first aperture and the second aperture is provided with bait holders.
 13. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein the metal lip is teardrop-shaped.
 14. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein the metal lip is triangularly-shaped.
 15. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 14, wherein the metal lip has beveled edges.
 16. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein the metal lip is made of non-toxic metal.
 17. The metal lip jig rig according to claim 1, wherein the metal lip is replaced with a plastic lip. 